My Place series

Throughout August, Place North West published reflections from property professionals on the towns and cities that shaped them, and how the fabric of these places has changed, along with their vision for the future of their home.

Liverpool

In the first entry of the series, Alison Carroll, development project manager at Ask Real Estate, reflects on her upbringing in Liverpool and the steps the city needs to take to continue its renaissance. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale

It would be fair to say that Sale has seen very little in the way of genuine transformation for more than a decade, writes Paul Smith of Strategic Land Group, but it has the potential to become Greater Manchester’s most cycling-friendly town. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leigh

Repurposing historic buildings and delivering affordable homes can set places like Leigh apart from the region’s city centre, writes Jonathan Twentyman of JP McGuire Developments. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Bolton

Bolton is taking the right steps to address its struggling high street, but calculated risks can help take the town to the next level, writes Nilesh Modhvadia of Cowgills. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lancaster

As Lancaster grows, maintaining its unique identity will become more crucial than ever, writes Gillian Harrison of Levitt Bernstein. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oldham

Growing up in Oldham in the 1980s and 1990s was a picture of decline, writes Kevin Whitmore of BECG. But look more closely and you can now see a town with a determination to make sure its best days are ahead. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Preston

Preston’s momentum mustn’t stop at making its public realm look good: an innovative city-living strategy could be the key to its continued success, writes John Bridge of architect studio John Bridge. Read more

 

 

 

 

Padiham

Padiham’s opportunity to reinvent itself lies with not just the town’s community but with the public sector too, writes Christine Winstanley of Eric Wright Health & Care. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salford

Salford has all the ingredients to emerge from Manchester’s shadow to be a world-leading city in its own right, writes Neil Higson of Wildbrook CRE. So what’s stopping it? Read more

 

 

 

 

Chester

The private sector needs a united voice otherwise opportunities to shape the future of Chester could be missed, writes Tim Kenney of Kenneymoore. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farnworth

Poorly-connected public realm has let Farnworth down in the past, writes Ged Couser of BDP, but that could be about to change. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Carlisle

Carlisle offers a high standard of living, but could benefit from better connectivity, writes Paul Chatterjee of DB Symmetry. Can the reopening of the city’s airport be the lifeline it needs? Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altrincham

Altrincham might be the poster-child of how to make a high street successful, but it can’t rest on its laurels, writes Daniel Lee of Regional Property Solutions. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Liverpool

North Liverpool could be something special, writes Shelagh McNerney. It’s time for the city to start looking to the future instead of attempting to restore the past. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wigan

There’s more to Wigan than just pie shops: reinvigorating the high street and driving the night-time economy will need to be the catalyst to get wider development under way, writes Tom Hargreaves of Anderton Gables. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frodsham

Frodsham shouldn’t be okay with just being okay: let’s start with making something special out of the Goods Shed, write Pete Swift of Planit-IE and Nicky Hughes of Active Profile. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Blackpool

Blackpool has been burdened with a negative reputation but the town is far more than the sum of its parts, writes Liv Parr of Hawkins\Brown. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Fleetwood

Like many of Britain’s seaside towns, Fleetwood has struggled to revive its former glory, but the town’s residents have genuine hope there are better times ahead, writes Frank Heald of Wyre Dock Development. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockport

The arrival of a coherent regeneration framework and a raft of exciting independent retailers indicates that Stockport is a town on the up, writes Emma Dickson of Turley. Read more

 

 

 

 

Southport

On paper, Southport should be doing better: taking a leaf out of Lytham’s book and giving the town a focus on health and wellbeing could be one way to do it, writes Kevin Horton of K2 Architects. Read more

 

 

 

 

Monton

Being the next big thing can be a curse as well as a blessing, so how do places like Monton maintain their identity as they become more popular, writes Paul Jones of Capital & Centric. Read more

 

 

 

 

Sandbach

Sandbach was built on its railway heritage but the town needs to look to its market to secure its future, writes Neal Allen-Burt of Sheppard Robson. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broughton

Positive change in places like Lower Broughton and Swinton needs to be maintained for Salford to shake off its historic reputation, writes Esme Roberts of Newgate Communications. Read more

 

 

 

 

Rochdale

Rochdale’s thriving business parks have helped bring cash, confidence and speciality coffee to its historic town centre, but the momentum can’t be lost, writes John Barton of BC Real Estate. Read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hale

Hale, Bowdon and Altrincham are hotspots for prime residential development but developers need to be wary of pricing people out of the area, writes Steve Slater of Real Estate Investment Partnerships. Read more